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Published Online: 24 January 2014

Small-Diameter Vascular Graft Engineered Using Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Mesenchymal Cells

Publication: Tissue Engineering Part A
Volume 20, Issue Number 3-4

Abstract

Despite the progress made thus far in the generation of small-diameter vascular grafts, cell sourcing still remains a problem. Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) present an exciting new cell source for the regeneration applications due to their high proliferative and differentiation capabilities. In this study, the feasibility of creating small-diameter vascular constructs using smooth muscle cells (SMCs) differentiated from hESC-derived mesenchymal cells was evaluated. In vitro experiments confirmed the ability of these cells to differentiate into smooth muscle actin- and calponin-expressing SMCs in the presence of known inducers, such as transforming growth factor beta. Human vessel walls were constructed by culturing these cells in a bioreactor system under pulsatile conditions for 8 weeks. Histological analysis showed that vessel grafts had similarities to their native counterparts in terms of cellularity and SMC marker expression. However, markers of cartilage and bone tissue were also detected, thus raising questions about stable lineage commitment during differentiation and calling for more stringent analysis of differentiating cell populations.

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Information & Authors

Information

Published In

cover image Tissue Engineering Part A
Tissue Engineering Part A
Volume 20Issue Number 3-4February 2014
Pages: 740 - 750
PubMed: 24125588

History

Published in print: February 2014
Published online: 24 January 2014
Published ahead of production: 15 October 2013
Accepted: 25 September 2013
Received: 12 December 2012

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Authors

Affiliations

Sumati Sundaram
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.
Department of Anesthesiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
Andreana Echter
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.
Amogh Sivarapatna
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.
Caihong Qiu
Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.
Laura Niklason
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.
Department of Anesthesiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.

Notes

Address correspondence to:Laura Niklason, MD, PhDDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringYale UniversityRoom 301D Amistad10 Amistad StreetNew Haven, CT 06510E-mail: [email protected]

Authors' Contributions

S.S.: conception and design, collection and assembly of data, data analysis and interpretation, writing of the article.
A.E.: collection and assembly of data, data analysis and interpretation.
A.S.: collection and assembly of data, data analysis and interpretation.
C.Q.: provision of materials, final approval of the article.
L.N.: conception and design, data analysis and interpretation, final approval of the article, financial support.

Disclosure Statement

L.N. has a financial interest in Humacyte, Inc., a regenerative medicine company. Humacyte did not fund this study, and Humacyte did not affect the design, interpretation, or reporting of any of the experiments herein.

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